OWENSBORO, Ky. (2/28/14) — Owensboro Public Schools will be celebrating National School Breakfast Week Mar. 3 through Mar. 7

They will join schools across the nation in focusing on encouraging students to eat a nutritious breakfast each day.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and research shows that students who eat breakfast exhibit improved academic performance.

“Approximately 2,375 students, about half, of our students eat breakfast at school. That is much better than the state average of 39 percent, but we continue to work on increasing those numbers. Some students eat at home, but too many students just skip the first meal of the day,” according to Lisa McCarty, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services.

The Kentucky Challenge and National School Breakfast Week are designed to encourage more students to routinely eat a school breakfast.

“We encourage students to eat breakfast all year, not just during this one week. We have signs in schools that advertise breakfast items that are served daily,” explained Mrs. McCarty.

Students who eat breakfast are more focused and more productive.

Students who skip breakfast often get hungry mid-morning and don’t focus as well on their class work. Eating breakfast triggers a healthy metabolism and curbs the desire to overeat at lunchtime. Scientific studies indicate that eating breakfast increases performance in math and reading scores.

During National School Breakfast Week, OPS elementary students who eat breakfast will receive a daily prize.

Owensboro Middle and Owensboro High School students will also have a chance to win prizes if they eat breakfast at school next week.